Tracking U of Heat Exchangers

[u/mrnormality]

Hello,

Is there really a significance for tracking Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient of heat exchangers over time? Monitoring the heat exchanger outlet temperature or simple lculation for the heat duty would already be a good indicator for the fouling that happens within the exchanger. If this is the case, there is no point in calculating U and tracking it, right?

[u/unmistakableregret]

Technically yes I guess, but U gives you a better feel for what's going on with because it's per area. You could then compare to other exchangers of different size.